Improvement in combined fire-plugs and cisterns



F. 'LATTA.& H. HUGHES. Combined Fire-Plugs and Cisterns. 137,006.

Patented March 18, 1873.

' Fig.1.

AM. PHUTOLHWOGRAPHIC c0. (male/v53 mums) I UNITED STATES PA'rnT OFFICE.

. FINLEY LATTA AND WI LLISON H. HUGHES, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT m COMBINED FIRE-PLUGS AND CISTERNS."

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 13?,006, dated March18, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, FINLEY LATlA and WILLIsoN H. -HUGHIES, both ofCincinnati, Hamilton county, Ohio, have invented a Combined Fire-Plugand Gistern, of which the fol; lowing is a specification;

Nature and Object of the Invention.

The first part of our improvements consists in locating a fire-plugentirely within a suitable shallow cistern or tank that is provided ator near the level of the pavement with a detachable cap, the removal ofwhich enables access to any part of the plug, and permits a supply ofwater to be obtained either directly from said plug or from the cistern,as may be most convenient or effective. The plug, situated as abovedescribed, is arranged in such a manner as to discharge water directlywithin the cistern whenever it is desired to supply one or moresuction-engines, or a line of leading-hose may be screwed to said plugin the usual way, and the water be thereby conducted to the fire withoutthe intervention of a steam or other fire-engine; this latter methodbeing employed after the conflagration has been stayed, and when only acomparatively limited quantity of water is required. The second part ofour improvements relates to a peculiar construction of the valve of thethreeway cock which we employ in connection with our concealedfire-plug, said valve being arranged in such a manner as to prevent itsbeingjammed tightly Within its seat by the hasty and forcibleapplication of the key whereby such valves are usually opened for thepurpose of turnin g the water on, the details thereof beinghereinaftermore fully described. The third part of our improvementsconsists in the provision of a pivoted handle for operating thefire-plug, said handle being elevated when in use, and turned down whennot needed, by which means the plug and its accessories are allcontained within the cistern, and completely protected by the removablecap of the same.

General Description.

Figure 1 represents our fire-plug and cistern in their closed condition,the former being shown in elevation, and the latter in section. Fig. 2represents the plug in condition for discharging into the cistern. Fig.3 shows the .proper, E, of the usual conical form.

plug adapted to discharge into a leading-hose and not into the cistern.Fig. 4 is an enlarged axial section of the three-way cook, the partsbeing in corresponding position to those in Fig. 3. Figs. 5, 6, and 7are horizontal sections through the three-way cock and its accessories,showing the position the plug proper assumes corresponding to Figs. 1,2, and 3, respectively.

A represents a shallow tank or cistern, having a removable cap or cover,B, designed to be on a level with the pavement. A customaryservice-pipe, O, enters the side of a barrel or chamber, 1), of athree-way cook or plug It is preferred that the plug E should be made ofbrass or other non-c'orrodible metal; and said plug is attached to acollar, 0, by means-of nuts 0, as more clearly shown'in Fig. 4. A sideport, F, in the barrel allows the water to pass directly through thecock into the cistern when the plug is turned to the position represented in Figs. 2 and 6. A passage, G, upa ward through the top of theplug and into the hollow stem H directs the water through the top of theplug, whence it may be conducted by a leading-hose, I, screwed thereto,as seen in Fig. 3, the cap J, shown in Figs. 1 and 2, being previouslyremoved for this purpose.

Our plug is turned withoutthe necessity of the customary loose key,which is liable to be lost or mislaid when most urgently needed. Insteadof such customary appliance, we provide a handle, K, which occupies anorifice, l,

in a bar, L, whose bifurcated lower portion L L is pivoted to the hollowstem. External projections N from the hollow stem serve to hold the barL to either the vertical or horizontal position, as may be necessary forthe time being. In order to prevent the possibility of the plug properbeing jammed so tightly in its chamber as to resist turning, we provideat the lower end of the stem H a collar, 0, which is traversed by anumber of equidistant screws, P, whose points enter and rest upon aring,Q, which itself rests upon the top of the barrel. By raising orlowering of these screws the plug proper is held with,

any desired proximity to its seat or chamber,

but in such a way as to make it impossible for a rough or clumsyoperator to jam it too tightly in its seat.

When desired to close the plug, the handle is so turned as to bring theplug into the position shown in Fig. 5, which action shuts ofi' thesupply, while it at the same time allows any water left in the hollowstem to run into the cistern, and so avoid the liability to clog theplug by the freezing up of water left Within it.

A lug, R, that projects downward from the chamber or barrel engages overan iron beam, S, which supports the plug in position. The discharge pipeor stem H is maintained in a vertical position by a bracket or support,T, which is secured to one end of the cistern or tank A. This support isfurnished with a cap, 1, the removal of which permits the withdrawal ofthe stem H and its attached three-way cock E after the nut U has beendisengaged from the lower and screw-threaded portion of said stem H;

Our cistern or tank may be of masonry properly cemented, or of cast orwrought iron having its surface protected by painting or other- WlSe.

During intenselycold weather the cistern may be emptied and the cock beprotected by a bag of horse-manure, which being withdrawn the plug willbe ready for instant service.

Our plug, as described, may be of considerable use in some places in adry well or pit not adapted to contain water, the side opening F beingin that case omitted.

The port F may be omitted from the shell D, and the water be dischargedinto the cistern A from the upper end of the tubular stem H. In order toaccomplish this result it is only necessary to provide the upper end ofstem H with a swivel-coupling orgoose-neck,

which, when turned down, would permit water to flow into the tank, andwhich, when turned up, would discharge into a leading-hose or elsedirectly into the suction-tube of a fireengine.

The handle arrangement, as represented at K L L L I, may be dispensedwith, and the stem H rotated by simply grasping the gooseneck or curvedupper end of said stem, or a wrench-key or spanner may be applied to thenon-circular portion to which the stop N is secured.

Claims.

and folding handle L on the hollow stem H of the fireplug, as and forthe purpose explained.

3. The provision in the plug proper of collar 0, having the screws P,resting upon a ring, Q, supported and revolving upon the top of thebarrel, as and for the object set forth.

In testimony of which invention we hereunto set our hands.

FINLEY LATTA. VVILLISON H. HUGHES.

Attest:

GEO. H. KNIGHT, JAMES H. LAYMAN.

